CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19221, 9 January 1926, Page 12

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

THE TARANAKI TOURNAMENT. BARTLEET WINS THE SINGLES. AUCKLAND BEATEN IN DOUBLES. [BX TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] NEW PLYMOUTH. Friday. Coolness and skill carried Bartleet (Auckland) to victory in tho final of the men's singles' championship in the Taranaki tennis tournament to-day. Ho defeated Lampe, tho veteran WAnganui player, 2—6, 6—2, 9—7, 3—6, 6—l. The match was strenuous. Two features were outstanding. One was tho tenacity of Lampe. Few expected him to capture one set from the Aucldander, lut he lived up to his reputation of " ;oing for everything," and it was not inrii the fifth and final set that the tide definitely turned in favour of Bartleet. Bartleet's ability to produce winning strokes, which left his opponent standing, just when points were wanted, was the second notable feature. The first four sets, particularly the third, were fought evenly all the way, but the last was easily Bartleet's. He simply outplayed his opponent. For four strenuous sets Lampo's tireless spirit had carried him on. He had raced all over the court and returned seemingly impossible shots. Meanwhile Bartleet had scarcely turned a hair. He had even played the last two sets in a sweater. When tho call came for tho final effort he was comparatively fresh and at the top of his form. Earlier in the game lie had seemed sluggish. llc was more than usually slow in settling down to his game, double-faulting and hitting the ball into, the net. In tho last set, however, he was master of the courts, and after losing tho first game took tho next six in a row. It was a splendid game, although lacking the sparkle and variety of tho previous day's semi-final, in which Bartleet defeated Haege. Long rallies were a feature of the earlier sets, but tho rest were notable for placements, Bartleet's stop volleys being perfectly executed. There was little between tho lady finalists. Miss Bundle (New Plymouth) unexpectedly defeated Miss Lloyd (Now South Wales), 3—6, 6—3, 6—4, in a game marked by long rallies. After holding a good position in the final of the men's doubles, tho Auckland pair, Brinsden and Griffiths, were beaten by Webster (New Plymouth) and Smyth (Wellington), 7—9, 6—3, 4 —6, 6 —2, 6—3. It was a hard-hitting match, with net volleying tho chief feature. ,Tn the ladies' doubles final, Mrs. Robson and Miss Ilamsay were also bos,ton, tho winners being Miss Brewster (New Plymouth) and Miss Lloyd. The score was 6—4, 4—l, the coming of rain resulting in a decision not to play out the second set. A player who caught the eye as a coming champion was Miss I, Brownlie (Auckland), who defeated Miss N. Thorpe (Stratford) m the final of the girls' singles. Miss Brownlie has a delightfully free style and splendid service. In the boys' championship, P. McCarthy (Hawera) was much too,good for G. McHarcly (New Plymouth), winning 6—o, 6—3.

The only championship event nob decided is the final of the combined doubles, which will be played to-morrow morning between Brinsden (Auckland) and Miss Brewster (New Plymouth), and Haege (Victoria) and Miss Simpson (New Plymouth).